Short Summary

THE PRESENCE OF UNITED NATIONS TROOPS, STATIONED ALONG THE BANKS OF THE SUEZ CANAL SINCE THE END OF THE SIX-DAY ARAB-ISRAELI WAR LAST JUNE, SEEMS TO BE PROVING EFFECTIVE IN MAINTAINING PEACE IN THE AREA.

Description

THE PRESENCE OF UNITED NATIONS TROOPS, STATIONED ALONG THE BANKS OF THE SUEZ CANAL SINCE THE END OF THE SIX-DAY ARAB-ISRAELI WAR LAST JUNE, SEEMS TO BE PROVING EFFECTIVE IN MAINTAINING PEACE IN THE AREA.

THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS INCLUDING AN EXCHANGE OF ISRAELI AND EGYPTIAN GUNFIRE OVER THE NARROW WATERWAY HAVE DROPPED IN RECENT MONTHS. THE LATEST SUCH INCIDENT, AT THE END OF APRIL, WAS THE FIRST FLARE-UP IN THE CANAL ZONE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.

APART FROM BEING CALLED ON TO DEAL WITH THESE INCIDENTS THE LIFE OF THE MULTI-RACIAL FORCE IS CONFINED TO PATROLLING IN THEIR WHITE JEEPS AND KEEPING A CEASELESS VIGIL ON THE CANAL AND ITS BANKS.

ACTIVITY THERE TOO IS SLIGHT FOLLOWING AN ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT THAT THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE PROSPECT OF WORK BEING RESUMED ON THE CLEARANCE OF THE CANAL TO FREE THE 15 SHIPS TRAPPED IN THE WATERWAY SINCE THE WAR.

BUT THE CANAL AUTHORITY HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS TO SPEND GBP16,500,000 STERLING ON ROUTINE WORKS TO THE CANAL THIS YEAR AND NEXT. THE CANAL BUDGET INCLUDES GBP12,000,000 STERLING FOR PART OF A SCHEME TO DEEPEN THE CANAL TO TAKE TANKERS UP TO 84 FEET (25 METRES) TO DRAUGHT. OTHER PLANNED WORKS INCLUDE IMPROVEMENTS AT PORT SAID AND PORT FAUD.

ON THURSDAY (9 MAY) ISRAELI TROOPS WERE ALSO ON THE MOVE IN THE AREA NEAR EL QANTARA AFTER THREE ISRAELI SOLDIERS WERE KILLED AND SEVEN WOUNDED BY MINE EXPLOSIONS IN NORTH-WEST SINAI.